Double Vision

“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18

A great way to get a handle on your vision is to imagine your epitaph. Pretty morbid, but effective. Take a moment to quietly think about how you’d like to be remembered. Don’t worry about the past for this exercise- only think from this point forward. Imagine living to a ripe old age- how do you want to finish your life? How do you want to finish the following statements...

• What was most important to me was...
• I left a mark in the world by...
• God was glorified because I...
• The people I loved knew I loved them because...
• God will say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant,“ because I...

Now let’s talk about you vision, Connections vision, and how they might intersect.
Thinking now on where you want your life to end up, are you able to articulate a vision for your life?
For your family, for your spouse, for your children?
For your your work?
How is God a part of each of these areas?
Has your vision been greatly affected by the bible in any way?
Who have been the people that have profoundly shaped your vision?
The clearer you can be, the better. But if this just helps you to start thinking about this and articulating a few thoughts, fine.

Now let’s look at the vision of Connections. What is the vision of Connections? (Hint, finish the following, “Connecting with...”)
It’s one thing to say the vision. How would you explain or articulate the vision of Connections? How does it serve as our vision, our mission, and a model of doing ministry?
If it helps, think about tangible examples of how we are living out each of our three main areas of mission.

Looking now at the Double Vision document, what are our three tangible goals as a church?
Do you think these are a good direction?
Do you think they are attainable and glorifying to God?
How will moving toward these goals change things at Connections?
Does that excite you, or frighten you?

Think about some of the changes this means for our people. In what areas do you think we need to grow most- volunteers, serving families/individuals, or missional engagement in our community?
It’s OK to be really excited about one area. In fact, it might be a great thing if different people are more excited about different areas.

Finally, let’s look at our take away: RPMs
Resources
Prayer
Ministry

How can you invest your RPMs into your own vision?
Into Connections vision?
Where can the two intersect?

Blood, Bath & Beyond: Palm Sunday

CONNECTION GROUP QUESTIONS
April 5, 2009

The following readings will walk you through “Palm Sunday,“ the Sunday before Easter, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem. Jesus and his followers came to the city to celebrate the Passover and the week long Feast of Unleavened Bread. These events commemorated Israel’s liberation from Egypt, when God “passed over” homes marked by the blood of a lamb. The religious leaders knew that Jesus, a rabbi, would be in Jerusalem and conspired to have him killed.

Anticipation
Read Matthew 21: 1-11
Anticipation is different than having expectations. Try to get past your pre-existing expectations for how and where God will work in this time and this coming week. Just anticipate drawing deeper into a relationship with God through Jesus. Anticipate a richer understanding of your salvation that will deepen your relationship with God, your sense of peace and security in the work of Christ, and your awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Anticipate an amazing Holy Week and Easter celebration.

“Hosanna” was a Hebrew expression that meant, “Save us!” It became an expression of praise. As you begin this time of prayer, start with praise. Praise God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Now, more specifically, pray over those areas in which you need saved. As the crowd shouted, “Save us,” call to Jesus, “Save me.” Get specific, save my life, my children, my marriage, my job, save my...

Preparation
Read Matthew 21:12-17
In a fit of righteous anger Jesus drove the hucksters and shysters from the temple. What in you should elicit some righteous anger from Jesus? What does he want to drive out from you? After all, we are taught that
our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to be better at being ourselves!

This is your time of confession. Air your sins. Clear out the dirty laundry. Confession is good for the soul! How have you gone against God? What needs turned over and removed from your life? Have faith that wherever Jesus turns you over and cleans you out, he is also going to set you right and fill you up.

Jesus goes on to teach that his Father’s house will be a house of prayer. Drawing the connection, we should be people of prayer. Read again the simple praise of the sick and the children, v. 14-15. How are you sick? Where do you need healed? Pray about it. Then spend some time in that child-like praise. Keep it simple, honest, real. Just praise him as you might want to be praised by a child.

Supplication
Read Matthew 21:18-22
Now here’s the hard part. Let’s stretch our faith in prayer. Don’t get too wrapped up in studying this passage. Let it inspire your heart-felt prayers. Pray like you can move mountains! Pray it like you really believe it! Make this the bulk of your prayer time. Here are some suggested areas to pray over in Supplication:
• Your own relationship with God to grow deeper and closer this coming week.
• Blessing and healing for your spouse, children, and other loved ones.
• Salvation for family and friends who don’t know Jesus as their Lord.
• Blessing and growth at Connections Community Church.
• The needs of our neighbors- hurting marriages, broken families, unemployment, sickness, mental illness, AIDS in Africa, etc.
• Pray for local leaders right up through to world leaders.
• Pray for the end to war- focus on the Israel, Afghanistan and Iraq. Pray for peace.

Adoration
Read Matthew 26:6-13
Think of a time when you were adored. How did it make you feel? How did you respond? What can you offer to God in adoration? What have you been holding back? What would unabashed, unashamed, unrestrained adoration of Jesus look like for you? How can you give Him your all, your best? As your prayer time come to a close, just bask in adoration of Jesus.

Very often things will come out of prayer- a call you have to make; someone to forgive; a conviction about giving or serving.